For the Hillsdale College men's track and field team's two graduating seniors, the Covid-19 pandemic prevented them from closing out their Charger careers the way they expected, with one final outdoor track and field season.
But for both David Downey (Battle Creek, MI/St. Philip Catholic Central) and Joseph Humes (Maybee, MI/Milan), there's still plenty to celebrate in the careers they'd already had up to that point.
Both were instrumental in furthering the strong culture inside the men's track and field program that's been built up under head coach Andrew Towne in the last few years, and improved greatly throughout their careers at Hillsdale.
Today, on the day that would have been the second day of the 54th annual GINA Relays, as well as their senior day, Hillsdale College pays tribute to Downey and Humes for their contributions to the program over the last four years.
A sprinter, hurdler and jumper for the Chargers over the course of his career, Downey developed into a solid 400 meter hurdler by his junior season, placing seventh in the 400 hurdles at the 2019 G-MAC Outdoor Championships.
For his career, Downey posted personal bests of 55.58 in the 400 hurdles and 6.53m (21' 5 1/8") in the long jump.
"David just made rapid improvements throughout his career and developed into a hurdler capable of placing in conference meets for us," Towne said. "He was someone you could depend on to perform in meets and bring his best to practice every day.
"I was really excited to see what he was going to do in the 400 hurdles this spring, and I was sad to see him not get that opportunity, but I know he's going to do great things after graduation."
Downey will graduate this spring with a degree in Biology.
A two-time All-American, 10-time G-MAC Champion, and 11-time G-MAC placer, Humes put himself in the conversation for greatest distance runner in Hillsdale College history in his time with the Chargers.
That's despite not getting the chance to compete at the 2020 Division II Indoor nationals, or in the entire 2020 outdoor season.
In cross country, Humes was a three-time national meet qualifier, a two-time All-American and the G-MAC Individual champion as a senior.
On the track, Humes was a nine-time conference champion, including winning three titles and earning G-MAC Male Athlete of the Meet at the 2018 Indoor Championships. He also qualified for Division II national meets in three different events, placing 10th in the indoor mile and 13th in the outdoor 1,500 run as a sophomore.
He's the school-record holder in the indoor mile run (4:06.11), and it's his versatility across very different distances that makes him special, Towne said.
"Even among elite distance runners, it's very rare that you get someone who can be an All-American at 10,000 meters and also your school record-holder in the mile at the same time," Towne said. "Those are very different races, and to be nationally competitive across that whole range shows what kind of talent he has and what kind of a competitor he is."
Humes graduates this spring with a degree in Chemistry, and plans to attend Purdue University to pursue a masters in Chemical Engineering and use his remaining eligibility to compete in cross country and track and field for the Boilermakers.
Hillsdale College is proud of both Downey and Humes for everything they've achieved during their time here, and is grateful for the positive impact they've made on the track and field program and Hillsdale College as a whole. The entire College wishes them the best of luck in what is sure to be a bright future for both of them.
Thank you, David and Joseph, and charge on!